Inside The Edge
About
The Executive Chair
The one question you always want to ask a successful person in a senior leadership role is “How did you get there?” In developing your own career, you learn more from hearing what worked – and didn’t work – from senior leaders and hearing their wisdom than from any other source.
We are embarking on a series of interviews with leaders who exemplify success for us. In their words are insights that can give you direction for moving your own career forward.
To read a summary, written by Michael DeVenney, of the past 12 interviews this year - click here.
| Bob Caswill - Develop a Clear Vision and Focus on that Vision |
Bluteau DeVenney and Company (BDCO): What did you do to move to a leadership role?Bob Caswill (BC) It was really just a natural progression throughout my career. In my profession we work a lot in teams. I always had an interest in taking on more responsibility, and as a result, I typically found myself in a leadership role within those teams. (BDCO): What is one thing that developing professionals need to do more of?(BC): They really need to focus on a vision. Unfortunately, "vision" is often an overused term. People are sometimes hesitant about spending time developing a vision when they feel it is going to change again the next month. The problem with this mentality is that an effective vision should have a long shelf life; it is the strategies for obtaining the vision that definitely need to be amended. People often believe they are developing their vision, when what they are really doing is strategic planning. Developing professionals need to take the time to just sit back and determine where they ultimately want to go. It is very easy to get distracted with day to day activities, but if you don't stop every so often and re-focus, you will never achieve what you set out to do. (BDCO): What about doing less of?(BC): They need to focus less on what their current day-to-day job involves and instead, look at the bigger picture to determine what purpose they can serve in the overall success of their organization. (BDCO): What experience helped you the most in your career and why?(BC): Working in a professional services firm with other professionals. I have been fortunate throughout my career to work under the leadership of a number of people who I continue to greatly respect. They helped shape my skill set in terms of my own leadership abilities. (BDCO): What was the greatest challenge moving your career forward?(BC): I have never liked the feeling of standing still. I always need to be stimulated by what I am doing. One of the greatest strengths of the Chartered Accountant profession is that you are very mobile. Of course, at times, this can also be one of the profession's greatest weaknesses. You are in demand, which can cause you to be pulled in many directions. However, at the same time you are highly-respected, which gives you the credibility and flexibility to try new things and not accept the status quo. (BDCO): What is the greatest strength of your approach to leadership?(BC): How I openly demonstrate my passion and commitment for achieving the vision. I put a lot of stock in leadership by example. I respect those I work with and the work they do, and I think in turn they respect my leadership in achieving the vision. (BDCO): What has been the biggest surprise you have had since attaining a senior leadership role?(BC): There hasn't really been any big surprises. Maybe because it was such a natural progression that lead me to a leadership role - there has never really been anything thrown at me that has been unexpected. (BDCO): What is the greatest benefit to you in attaining a senior leadership role?(BC): From a personal sense, it is the feeling of accomplishment for what I have done in my career. Also, the level of respect my professional colleagues have shown me over the years has been of great benefit to me. (BDCO): What is the next achievement you want in your leadership career?(BC): I am in the process of setting new goals for myself (outside of my career) as I approach retirement in the fall. (BDCO): What is the biggest challenge you face in achieving results in your work?(BC): The greatest challenge I have faced is that my leadership is influential rather than structural in nature. My colleagues and I often joke about who works for whom. As CEO of The AC Group, I need to respect the independence and ownership of professionals in each firm while at the same time finding the common purpose and benefit for the firms to work together as an organization. You need to develop the ability to ask questions to involve everyone, gain insights and opinions, and then focus on creating shared value. In turn, each of our firms reflect much the same environment. Unlike other organizations with hierarchy and executive structure, professional firms are successful as a partnership of strong professionals and to lead effectively in such a firm you need to balance independence with collaboration. (BDCO): What is your greatest opportunity/goal for providing value for your organization?(BC): My greatest opportunity is developing the young professionals throughout the organization. The training these young professionals have received from our AC LEADERS Program, which Michael DeVenney and I developed, is reaping major dividends to not only the developing leaders but also to the member firms. It encourages our young professionals to think in a way that is different from how I was encouraged to think when I was at their level. (BDCO): What added support or capability would help you most in delivering on your goals?(BC): I am not sure that there is any additional capabilities that I need. I get ample support in this organization and, in general, I feel that my goals have been met. That is probably one of the main reasons that I am comfortable retiring at this stage in my career. Think about where you are now in your career and what you can take from Bob's observations. We would love to hear your comments about what are your key takeaways from our conversation with Bob. Tell us your progress – we want you to succeed. ______________________________________________________________
The AC Group is a dynamic organization of independent CA firms located throughout Atlantic Canada. It was formed by the firms for a common purpose - to assist them in fulfilling the needs of their clients by offering highest quality professional assurance, tax and advisory services. AC Group member firms are well-established local firms, which are focused on value-added services to privately held businesses, not-for-profit organizations, and public sector government boards, agencies and commissions. You can find out more about The AC Group at www.acgca.ca. |
